Protection of Conscience Project Library
Service, not Servitude
Extract
Legislation can be disastrous if it is ill-considered. Attempts to tidy up existing law, as in the case of betting and gambling, have proved in the last few years liable to proliferate what the law sought originally to discourage.
Browne R, Kirk DL. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966;1(5502):1541.
Extract
If we consider the medical indications for therapeutic abortion whereby the patient’s life may be expected to improve as a result of the operation, then its scope is very limited indeed. Rare indications include pregnancy complicated by carcinoma of the cervix; chorea gravidarum; status epilepticus; severe hyperemesis gravidarum; multiple sclerosis; pernicious anaemia ; and polyneuritis. . . Medically and psychiatrically therapeutic abortion is seldom indicated because it is very seldom indeed that it does any medical good.
Clyne DW. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966 Jun 11;1(5501):1482-1483.
Extract
It is surprising that in the discussion on abortion law reform paediatricians have so far taken only a small part. Yet their work will be profoundly influenced by the change in moral attitudes which is behind the pressure to alter these laws. If it becomes generally accepted that any foetus that has, say, a 20% chance of being abnormal is killed, it may become difficult to defend the preserving of life in very premature babies, where the risk of abnormality is similar. . .
Liebeshutetz HJ. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform. Br Med J. 1966 May 28; 1(5499): 1359
Extract
Without wishing to appear pompous, as a senior obstetrician who has been in charge of an obstetrical service in a large provincial district for 20 years, I think that to bring in legalized abortion would be a terrible mistake. It has been our policy to carry out an abortion where necessary on any case deserving it for therapeutic, social economic, or moral reasons, and to consider the question of sterilization with ,sympathy whenever requested.
Soldenhoff RD. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966 May 07;1(5496):1168.
Extract
. . . It ought to be understood, once and for all, that abortion is an operation like any other operation: the law can neither compel a surgeon to perform it
nor, provided his position is ethical, punish
him for performing it. What needs changing
is not the law but the myth. . .
. .
Hetherington RJ. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform Br Med J. 1966 May 7; 1(5496): 1168–1169
Extract
It would be a pity if changes in the law insisted that abortions should be performed only by gynaecologists, for this might at times saddle gynaecologists with judging issues in realms beyond the normal scope of gynaecology or with the obligation to perform operations at the behest of other experts but against their own conviction.
Hewetson S. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966 May 07;1(5496):1168.
Extract
I have used the suction curette for over a year now and on over fifty cases, with no untoward effects whatsoever and a minimum of both blood loss and operating time. I hope to publish these results in another journal in more detail shortly. It is quite ridiculous that constant emphasis should be placed on the dangerous and outdated methods of surgery and that newer methods be criticized with, I am sure, ignorance.
Kerslake D. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966 May 07;1(5496):1169.
Extract
I am sorry that Dr. K. S. Jones (23 April, p. 1050) found some of my words potentially offensive. They were not intended to be so, and I agree with him that relations between gynaecologists and psychiatrists should be good, so that patients who need them both shall not suffer. . .
Rhodes P. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform Br Med J. 1966 May 7; 1(5496): 1168–1169
Extract
No doubt more intensive social facilities would often be welcome, but to suggest that individual workers need to be forced to ” take up their full responsibilities ” is strongly to be deprecated.
Jones K. (Correspondence) Abortion Law Reform. Br Med J. 1966 Apr 23;1(5494):1050.
Extract
Following the recent correspondence in the B.M.7., I would like to comment on some of the proposed changes in the law with regard to abortion. I feel that too little respect is being shown to the gynaecologist, who will be the person to perform the operation. The concept of ” medical certificates ” is distasteful. . .
Lushby AF. (Correspondence) Abortion law reform. Br Med J. 1966 April 23; 1(5494): 1050